Stoke City's hierarchy will back new boss Nathan Jones to bring in new faces in the January transfer market.

Jones has yet to have full discussions with the club's owners over likely targets, but he has already been told they will look at any names he puts before them.

Jones himself is gathering his new managerial team together in time for Saturday's trip to Brentford when he will be accompanied by his first-team coach at Luton, Spaniard Joaquin Gomez, and also his analyst from Kenilworth Road.

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The total compensation for Jones and his team is believed to have cost Stoke £1m and is a measure of the club's determination to secure their man.

Saturday's fixture is further spiced up by the fact that Jones himself was wanted by Brentford when they lost Dean Smith to Aston Villa in early October.

Good news for Rory Delap?

Rory Delap, who survived the dismissal of Gary Rowett's managerial team, will be alongside Jones at Brentford and appears to have a secure future at the club.

That will be warmly welcomed by those with not just a soft spot for the former Stoke favourite, but who also recognise his coaching ability and the need for someone steeped in the best of the club's recent history.